Self-locking tank cap



Dec. 10, 1940. s- GREENBERG 2,224,385

SELF-LOCKING TANK CAP Filed` May 18, 1939 5cl/nud rea/z5@ 1N VEN TO A675 ATTO EY.

Patented Dec. 10, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to self-locking closure caps of the type especially adapted for use with fuel tanks, radiators and analogous receptacles, particularly on automobiles.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of an improved device of this class which may be applied to standard filler spouts or throats on gasoline tanks and the like and which includes a simplied locking means constructed preferably in one piece by a stamping operation.

A further object is the provision of improved locking means in a self-locking cap structure adapted for use with standard tank spouts, the

locking means being in the form of a nger or fingers arranged to yield to permit movement of the cap in one direction but to jam with parts of the throat or spout when an attempt is made to turn the cap in the other direction.

v Another object is the provision of a cap structure'for attachment to the spout of a tank of the type having a ange communicating at one end into a slot interiorly of the spout with the ange running in a circumferential direction and being raisedin a direction away from said notch, the particular improvement residing in the provision of a spring finger on the cap structure and which fits into said notch when the cap is applied, subsequent turning movement of the cap causing the finger to ride on the flange, the finger being biased and arranged so as to permit turning movement in one direction but to lock with the i'lange when reverse movement is attempted.

Viewed from another aspect, it is an object of the invention to provide a cap structure including a throat portion which ts into the spout of a tank and which has a V-shaped finger projecting therefrom in the direction of the axis of the throat and spout and positioned with a free edge portion which rides freely on a flange edge in the spout when the cap is turned in one direction but which binds against the fiange when an effort is made to turn the cap structure in the opposite direction,

Other objects and novel aspects of the invention reside in certain details of construction, as well as the arrangement and operation of the parts in the illustrative embodiment .described hereinafter in view of the annexed drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the cap structure mounted on a spout;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section along line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the spout along line 3-3 of Fig. 2, lookingup into the bottom of the cap structure;

Fig. 4 is a sectionalized perspective looking at the bottom of the cap structure in mounted position;

Fig. 5 is a perspective detail of a modied form of locking finger.

The loss of caps for tank spouts, radiators and the like, due to accidental jarring, thievery and the like, has necessitated replacement of the heretofore well known screw thread or turn-on type of cap by a permanent cap structure which springs open in some manner. The present invention provides a cap structure which may be mounted upon standard filler spouts to replace the screw-on or turn-on cap originally supplied therewith, the present cap structure, however, being irremovable once applied.

In the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the spout I0 is of the usual or standard variety, open at its upper end and provided with an inturned cam or'locking ange, or anges, I I which have a rising locking edge and diametrically opposite notches I2 which` are intended to receive the locking formations on a cap structure originally supplied with the spout. The bottom view shown in Fig.r 3 discloses two such flanges, each of which is provided with a depending shoulder member I3 also situated at diametrically opposite positions andeach adjacent one of the notches I2, the edge portions I4 of each shoulder I3 adjoining the corresponding notch constituting a stopping abutment adapted to prevent turning the cap in that direction. Each of the shoulders I3 is provided with an opposite edge portion I5 which constitutes a stopping abutment for the locking members on the cap when the latter is turned to the limit of its movement. Each of the anges has a 10W entering edge portion I6 at its end remote from the shoulder I3, and therefore the lowest parts of the flanges are also situated in diametrically opposite positions, each adjoiningl one of the notches I2 and each opposite one of the stopping edge portions I4 of the shoulders I3.

The cap structure includes a basemember I 'l of annular shape with inner edge portions struck down to provide a tubular throat I8 and having an outer edge portion struck down to provide a skirt I9. A spring closure cap 20 is mounted by spring hinge means 2l on the base member I1 and has a skirt portion 22 which fits closely around the skirt I9 and which is provided with a detent 22a which engages the skirt I9 to hold the cap 2li in closed position. A suitable gasket Iii) 23 is adhesively or otherwise secured to the inner side of the cap 20 and rests on the base portion I'I when the cap is closed, to seal off the spout. Another gasket 23a is fitted between the base I'I and mouth of the spout.

The automatic locking means which constitutes an important feature of the invention includes the provision on the throat portion I8 (Figs. 3 and 4) of outwardly struck lugs 24 0n diametrically opposite sides of the bottom rim or periphery of the throat, and each lug has an elongated body portion bent partly back in a direction upon itself to provide an axially extending V-shaped locking finger 25. One leg or free end of the V is integrally attached as at 26 to the corresponding lug, while the opposite free end 21 of each finger is disposed to ride on the edge of one of the flanges I I.

The base and. throat portion Il-I8 are preferably integral and formed by suitable stamping operations. However, these parts may be made separate, if desired. Likewise, the locking finger formations are preferably formed integrally with the throat portion I8, although in some instances it may be desirable to make the same separate attachments, particularly where the stock from which the structure is formed would be too light to prevent destruction of the fingers by application of excessive turning forces, as by the use of a large wrench or the like.

In either case, the arrangement of the fingers 25, particularly with respect to their V-shape, and by suitable selection of the metal stock from which they are struck, makes them yieldable, so as to cause the edge portions 21 to ride freely on the edges of the corresponding flanges II when the cap is turned toward the right, as is usual in attaching this type of device.

During such movement the edge portions 2'I are following the corresponding lug portions 24 in the direction of turning movement and are riding up grade on the rising flanges I I. The leading edge portions 28 of each of the lugs 24 are disposed to bear against the abutment edges I5 on the shoulders I3 to limit the turning movement of the cap when the latter is turned home.

After turning movement of the cap has been started so as to dispose the edge portions 2'I in substantial distance away from the lowermost edge parts I6 on the flanges, any reverse turning effort will cause the edge parts 21 to bite into the ange in an effort to buckle back toward the lugs 24, and the leverages are such that all ordinary turning eforts in an attempt to remove the cap, once turning movement of the same has been started, are wholly defeated, and in the usual constructions the forces which would be necessary to remove the cap would be so great that the locking means would be destroyed and render the structure useless.

In Fig. 5, I have shown a modified form of locking finger which is especially suitable for use with cap structures which are likely to be subjected to unusual abuse so far as attempts to remove the same are concerned. As in the case of the arrangement of Fig. 4;, for example, the cap structure includes the throat I8 with the laterally offset flange portion 24, but the integral part of the finger structure, instead of being bent back upon itself to provide the locking edge 21, constitutes an axial projection which is terminated near its free end and provided with an offset ear 50.

A locking finger proper, 5I, is attached by means such as the rivet 52 to one side of the integral finger or extension so that the inner lateral edge 53 of the attached finger is fitted flush against the under side of the ear 5D. As a result of this construction, it will be apparent that there is practically no limit to the thickness of the locking finger member 5I, and the latter is prevented from turning by the overlying ear 50, the rivet means 52 being made as large and strong as the circumstances require. The finger 5I is made of a resilient or springy metal, and the opposite or locking edge 54 thereof is disposed to ride along the cam edge II in the manner described in connection with the other figures.

From the foregoing illustrative embodiment and description thereof, it will be apparent that I have devised a simplified self-locking cap structure which in its broadest aspect provides finger means arranged to ride on a flange interiorly of a filler spout or the like and permitting turning movement in one direction but jamming with the flange when reverse movement is attempted, and while the description sets forth specific details, the invention is not limited thereby except as may be provided in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A cap structure adapted to fit on the end of a spout having an internal flange with opposite notches and stopping shoulders adjoining each notch, said flange having an edge rising in a certain circumferential direction between the shoulders and ends respectively opposite thereto, said cap structure including a spout portion having opposite lugs which t into said notches so that the lugs may be turned beneath said flange when the cap is turned, each of said lugs having a V-shaped finger with the extremity `of one side of the V attached to the lug and the extremity of the opposite side of the V constituting a locking part arranged to ilt beneath and engage said ange when the cap is turned as aforesaid, the bight ofthe V pointing inwardly of the spout, said fingers being yieldable so as to permit said locking part to ride onto the higher portions of said flange when the c ap is turned in a certain direction but jamming against the flange to prevent turning movement in an opposite direction.

2. A self-locking cap for use with a filler spout of the type having inturned circumferentially extending locking fianges with opposite stopping shoulders adjoining oppositely situated notches therein, said flanges each rising ,in depth from one end near one of said notches toward an opposite end near one of said shoulders, said cap including a base part which f ts onto the spout, a passage opening into the spout, opposite lugs projecting laterally of ,the axis of the spout and adapted to t into said opposite notches so as to be turned beneath said flanges when the cap is turned in a certain direction, said lugs abutting said shoulders to limit turning movement in said direction,each of said lugs having an axially projecting finger turned over with an edge portion disposed to engage and to ride on the rising edge of one of said flanges when the cap is turned as aforesaid, said fingers being yieldable and arranged and constructed to yield during turning movement of the cap in said direction so that said edge may move onto the higher portions of the flange, said finger jamming said edge against the fiange when opposite turning movement of the cap is attempted.

3. In a self-locking cap structure, locking means for cooperation with a locking nange having a locking edge which slopes in a circumferential direction away from the mouth of a ller spout, said cap structure fitting onto said mouth of the spout, said locking means comprising a finger mounted as a part of said cap structure to lie Within the spout beneath said locking edge so as to extend away from said edge in a direction into the spout, said nger having an angularly extending member projecting back toward said locking edge to engage and to ride on the latter when the cap is turned in one direction on said spout, said riding part of the angularly extending member being positioned to jam against the locking edge to prevent reverse turning movement of the cap structure.

SAMUEL GREENBERG. 

